Today I'm exploring the work of Rhys Chatham [REESS CHAT-um], an American composer and experimental musician who helped bridge the worlds of minimalist classical music and the raw power of rock.

Alright, let’s go back to 1997. Cable TV is getting weirder, animation is still mostly family-friendly, and then suddenly — out of nowhere — South Park shows up.

I'm probably a bad critic, but it might also be a bad sign that I barely even remember a TV episode I recently watched.

I'm talking about the pilot episode of D.C., a show that only lasted seven episodes, which was vaguely about politics and way more about relationship drama between attractive young people.

This is the unedited video of my interview with composer Carlos Rafael Rivera. There's about 10 seconds of quiet at the start, so be ready for that.

Anyway, Carlos and I discuss his work on the movie "They Will Kill You," a 2026 American action-comedy horror film directed by Kirill Sokolov and co-written with Alex Litvak. The film stars Zazie Beetz, Myha’la, Paterson Joseph, Tom Felton, Heather Graham, and Patricia Arquette. It follows an ex-convict who takes a housekeeping job at a mysterious New York City high-rise, only to discover a history of strange disappearances.

Additionally, we talk about guitar effects pedals, the power of synthesizers, and I even shamelessly propose a music collaboration. Will that happen? I do not know...probably not. But that moment is in this video.

I am also happy to somewhat demystify the experience of movie/TV show-related interviews. Also, you can marvel at my awkwardly, naturally lit face that makes me look like Casper the Friendly Ghost with a black eye!

Talking about folklore. Fairy tales. The stories people pass down.

And more specifically, the idea that these stories came from some kind of “pure,” untouched oral tradition.

This also leads me to eventually discussing (a little bit) one of my favorite MST3K episodes.

Pretty Lethal is a 2026 action thriller directed by Vicky Jewson and written by Kate Freund. The film stars Iris Apatow, Lana Condor, Millicent Simmonds, Avantika, Maddie Ziegler, and Uma Thurman. It follows a dysfunctional ballet troupe forced to take shelter when their bus breaks down en route to a major competition. When a gang of armed men targets them, the dancers must use their training to fight back.

The score, composed by Paul Leonard-Morgan, was recorded with the Royal Scottish National Orchestra in Glasgow. It blends lush orchestral textures with driving electronic elements, mirroring the film’s mix of action and dance. A standout is the original ballet sequence, a two-and-a-half-minute piece crafted precisely to match choreography.

The biggest controversy tied to Harry S. Truman is usually considered to be his decision to use atomic weapons against Japan in 1945 during World War II.

This episode is about a man whose voice carried across prison walls, across decades, and straight into the foundation of American music.

His name was Lead Belly.

Strom Thurmond remained a powerful and deeply controversial figure in U.S. politics for decades, shaping South Carolina’s political direction long after his early career. His influence even extended into later generations of politicians; for example, he campaigned on behalf of Lindsey Graham, illustrating how political networks tied to segregationist power structures persisted well into the late 20th century, extending into today.

This episode: Why Fairy Tales Repeat Across the World.